Decantation apparatus.



Patented nov., 6,1901). y

No. www.`

J. MAIG'NEN.. mcMlTMloN` APPARATUS. (Apphcation led Apr 18 1900) 2Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 66mm. .Patented Nov. 6, |900.

J. A. MAIGNEN.

nEcANTATloN APPARATUS. (Application led Apr. 1B, 1900.) (No Modal.) 2Shees-Sheet 2.

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JEAN A. MAIGNEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DECANTATION APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,316, dated November6, 1900.

Application filed April 18, 1900. Serial No. 13,294. (No model.)

.T0 @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JEAN A. MAIGNEN, of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDecantation Apparatus,whereof the following` is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to apparatus wherein particles of matter suspendedin liquids may be separated therefrom by subsidence of the particles dueto the difference in specic gravitybetween the matter in suspension andthe liquid in which it is suspended, such a process being diferentiatedfrom the process of filtration in that the separation in the decantation process is due to gravitation, while in a ltering process theresult is secured by screening. Ordinarily the process of decantationconsists in permittinga body of liquid to remain quiescent in what istermed a sedimentation basin or tank until the suspended mattergravitates to the bottom of the liquid, the upper strata of clear liquidin the tank being removed at intervals and a corresponding quantity ofraw liquid introduced to replace the same. However, the ordinary processaforesaid requires such an extent of time for its completion that theapparatus comprising such sedimentation basin or tank must becorrespondingly extensive and costly in proportion to its output ofdecanted and clarified liquid.

Therefore it is the object of my invention to provide an apparatuswherein the liquid to be decanted shall be divided into shallow layersor streams and so disposed that the subsidence of the matter suspendedtherein shall be immediately secured, with a consequent maximum outputof clariiied liquid from an apparatus of given dimensions.

My invention consists in providing an apparatus wherein the liquid isentered at the bottom and discharged at the top and in passing from theinlet to the outlet is compelled to take a tortuons path, as hereinaftermore definitely specified, by means of deiiecting-diaphragms arranged incombination with impedi1nentors-such as bricks or other geometricalblocks, broken stone, coke, or the like--so coarse and loose as not tointerfere materially with the speed of passage of the liquid, thearrangement of the parts being such, however, as to divide the liquidinto small streams, break the force oi' its movement, and form eddiesand quiet places behind the impedimentors throughout the apparatus, inwhich eddies and quiet places the matter normally suspended in theliquid is deposited.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure l is a .sectional perspective viewof an apparatus conveniently embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is asectional View of said apparatus, taken at right angles to the plane ofsection in Fig. l. Fig. 3 shows details of geometrical blocks.

In said figures, A is the inclosing casing, having a bottom inlet b forthe liquid and a liquid-discharge outlet c at the top thereof, theformer being in communication with the conduit B and the latter incommunication with the conduit C, conveniently formed in integralrelation with the casing A. I prefer to provide the chamber A at thebottom of said casing A in order to conveniently distribute the incomingliquid over the area of the screen D, which serves as a convenientsupport for the impedimentor contents of said casing. The diaphragme EF.2 E3 E4 are arranged in vertical 'series within said casing andcomprise overlapping courses of plates or tiles, (respectively marked e'c2 c3 e4.) All of said courses are slightly inclined in an upwarddirection; but the lateral direction of inclination is dil'erent in therespective diaphragms-that is to say, referring to Fig. l, the coursesof the diaphragm El incline upwardly to the left, the courses of thediaphragm E2 incline upwardly toward the observer, the courses of thediaphragm E3 incline upwardly toward the right, and the courses of thedia phragm E4 incline upwardly away from the observer-so that the liquidinlet at b is conipelled to take a tortuons path through thc diaphragmsE' to E4, inclusive, and at each diaphragm to change the direction ofits traverse. The spaces between said diaphragm and between therespective courses comprising them are filled with impedimentors F,consisting of bricks or geometrical blocks, as shown in Fig. 3, orfragments of broken stone, coke, or the like, such as indicated in Figs.l and 2. It is to be noted that the interstices between said impedimentors are of such size as not to have any screening eliectwhatever upon the liquid which .passes therethrough, which is caused todeposit its suspended matter within the eddies and quiet places formedbehind the blocks or fragments F. The arrangement described is such thatthe downhill faces, so to speak, of the impedimentors are washed cleanby the uprising liquid,where as the uphill faces of said impedimentorsare covered by the adherent deposited sediment.

In order that the flow of liquid through the apparatus may be furtherchecked and equalized, I prefer to provide above the upper diaphragm E4a layer of buoyant elastic material G-such as peat fiber, cornstalk, orany suitable inorganic material-held down by suitable means, such aswire screening H. I also find it desirable to interpose such elasticmaterial between the edges of said diaphragms and the adjoining walls ofsaid inclosing casing, as indicated at g, in order to prevent a directpassage of liquid through the apparatus at said joints.

It is to be noted that the peculiar arrangement of the parts abovedescribed is such that the deposit of sediment upon the uphill side ofthe impedimentors F, zc., may be readily discharged from the apparatusby iiushing the latter with liquid in a downward direction, the rush ofthe Wash liquid and the gravitation of the sediment both serying todischarge the latter from the apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus above described is not filtration, forthe latter is necessarily a screening operation, whereas within theapparatus which I have described the passages for the liquid are alwaysone hundred times or more wider than is necessary for the passage of theparticles of matter suspended therein, the process carried out in saidapparatus being sedimentation or decantation with checked and directedflow, which process may be carried on continuously or intermittently.

Certain characteristics of apparatus hitherto known may be here setforth in order that the advantages of my improvements may be noted asfollows: Ordinary sedimentationbasins are not provided with means todivide the bulk of liquid treated, and the momentum of the incomingliquid tends to deliver it directly to the outlet. Moreover, thetendency aforesaid is augmented by the difference in temperatureexisting between the incoming liquid and that in the basin, whichprevents the mixture of the stream of incoming liquid with thesurrounding liquid. By my improvements the bulk of liquid treated isdivided into small portions and the sediment deposited in the eddiesbehind the impedimentors in the course of the liquid in the same manneras such deposits are made in a natural stream behind stones orotherobstructions where eddies are formed, and said liquid is compelledto traverse the entire extent of the path provided for it, regardless ofits momentum or any difference in temperature such as aforesaid. Thecourse of the liquid treated in sedimentation-basins may be pre=determined by bafIie-plates; but the use of such plates withoutcombination with the other means which I have specified does notsufliciently divide the liquid to produce the peculiar sedimentation ordecantation effect of the eddies secured by the combination which I havespecified.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of the apparatuswhich I have shown and described, as itis obvious that variousmodifications may be made therein without departing from the essentialfeatures of my invention.

I claiml. In a decantation apparatus, the combi# nation with aninclosing casing, of an inlet for liquidat the bottom of said casing, anout` let for liquid at the top of said casing, a series of diaphragmscomprising courses of plates or tiles slightly inclined in an upwarddirection, and coarse granular material interposed between saiddiaphragms,substantially as set forth.

2. In a decantation apparatus, the combination with an inclosing casing,of an inlet for liquid at the bottom ofsaid casing, an outlet for liquidat the top of said casing, a series of diaphragms comprising courses ofplates or tiles slightly inclined in an upward direction, andgeometrical blocks or fragments of material interposed between saiddiaphragms, substantially as set forth.

3. In a decantation apparatus, the combination with an inclosing casing,of an inlet for liquid at the bottom of said casing, an outlet forliquid at the top of said casing, a series of diaphragms comprisingcourses of plates or tiles slightly inclined in an upwarddirection,coarse granular material interposed between said diaphragms, alayer of buoyant elastic material above the upper diaphragm, and meansto prevent the displacement of said buoyant material, substantially asset forth.-

4. In a decantation apparatus, the combination with an inclosing casing,of an inlet for liquid at the bottom of said casing, an outlet forliquid at the top of said casing, a series of diaphragms comprisingcourses of plates or tiles slightly inclined in an upward direction, thelateral direction of inclination of said plates or tiles being differentin the adjoining diaphragms, and coarse granular material interposedbetween said diaphragme substantially as set forth.

5. In a decantation apparatus, the combination with an inclosing casing,of an inlet for liquid at the bottom of said casing, an outlet forliquid at the top of said casing, a series of daphragms comprisingcourses of plates or tiles slightly linclined in an upward direction,the lateral direction of inclination of said plates or tiles beingdifferent in the adjoining diaphragms, coarse granular materialinterposed between said diaphragms, a layer of buoyant elastic materialabove the IOO IIO

To direction, the lateral direction of inclination of said plates ortiles being different in the adjoining diaphragms, coarse granularmaterial interposed between said diaphragme, and elastic materialbetween the edges of said diaphragms and the adjoining Wall ofsaid I5inclosing casing, substantially as set forth.

' JEAN A. MAIGNEN. Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, E. L. FULLERTON.

